Furniture



M. THUM FURNITURE `luly 21, 1931.

Filed April 13.y 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet, l

'M/7m I is ATTORNEY M. TH U M FURNITURE July 2l, 1931.

4 Sheets-Sheet. 2

' INVENTOR m ATTORNEY M. THUM FURNITURE July 21, Y'1931.

4 Sheets-Sheet, 5

Filed April 13, 1927 l ru.

lNVENTOR /ycwg T11/um,

- ALS ATTORNEY July 21, 1931. M. THUM FURNITURE Filed April 15, 1927 4Sheets-Sheet, 4

nas ATTORNEY Patented July 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATE NT OFFICE MARTINTHUM, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK FURNITURE Application led April 13,

The'present invention relatesto furniture and more particularly to thetype in'which there is provided a bottom member adaptedA to occupy aninner position where it acts as a seat and an outer position where itacts as an extension for the furniture to provide a bed bottom or otherreclining surface. An object of this invention is to associate with thebottom member a back member which has a pivotal and lost motionconnection with the bottom member permitting the back member to occupyan upright position and also a horizontal position with the gap betweenthe bottom member and the back member closed. Another object of theinvention vis to provide a construction in which the back- .30 object ofthe invention is to so support the back member that it moves toward andfrom its upright position without any portion thereof being projectedbeyond the back of the furniture, thus permitting the furniture to besituated close to a wall without 'any interference with'suchfwallVduring the adjustment of the'back. Still another object of theinvention is to' construct the back of the furniturevthat the upperportion'of the back of such furniture does not-'project above 'thebottom member when the latter is in its outerfposition;v Still anotherobject ofthe invention i'stto provide a novel mounting for fa backclotlrso that the' back c lothwill cover the back member and the back ofthe furniture when the back member is in an upright position, and willclose the spacebetween the back of the furniturey and the back memberwhen the back member -is in a horizontal posi- 50 tion. A still furtherobject of the invention 1927. Serial zNo. 183,325.

is to provide a novel means of mounting the springs which assist inmoving the bottom member in one direction. A still further object of theinvention is to provide an upbolstered member which is so constructedthat the upholstering cloth o'r covering may be effectively secured inplace by tacks or fasteners notwithstanding the frame of the upholsteredmember is made mainly from metal. Another and still further object ofthe'invention is to 'provide anoVel means of connecting the bottommember'to a track or support on which the bottom member moves, suchmeans being constructed toprevent disconnection between the bottommember and the track of support. Still another and further object of theinvention is'to provide a novel means' of connecting aback piece to theside 'frames or -pieces'so as to insure v 'proper alignment of the partsand an effective connectionA between them." Still other objects are toprovide a -novel connection vbetween the side pieces and the bottomframe,

to provide a novel means of supporting the ,tracks whereby effectivealignment is secured and 'durable support therefore obtained, and to'utilize this track supporting means as' an anchorage for the side pieces'and also as a support for thelinks or swinging members on which theback member is mounted. To these and other ends,"the invention consistsof certain-parts and combinations of i parts, all of which will behereinafter described; the novel features being pointed out in theappended claims.

Fig. 1 is a view with parts in section showingthe furniture in itsposition Where it acts as a' seat, the bottom member being in its innerposition; 4 j y K v Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section on theline 2 2, Fig. 1;

lFig. 3,is an enlarged fragmentary Section 'f on the line 3 3, Fig. 1; yv

Fig. 4 is a viewv partially in section showing the .furniture adjustedto provide a bed, the `bottom member being in its outer position;

f Fig. 5 is a section on`the line 5-5, Fig. 4;

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are detail views of the pivl otalV lostmotionconnection between the bed and the bottom member;

Fig. 9 is a rear fragmentary view of the Y Fig. 13 is a fragmentary topview of the two frames of the bottom and the back member, showing saidparts in horizontal alignment; and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the tracks and itssupporting means. Referring tothe illustrated embodiment of longitudinalmembers of the box frame and 3 the transverse members of the box frame,the transverse members being morticed at 4 at their ends to thelongitudinal members 2 in spaced relation tothe ends of the latter asshown in Fig. 10 to provide spaces 5 at opposite ends of the box frame.

vIn orderto rmly secure the sides 1 to the box frame in a detachablemanner, bolts 6 are passed through a side frame 1 and a transverse piece`3 and bolts 7 are passed through the'side frame 1 and flanges 8 whichproject laterally from plates 9 which by bolts 10 are secured to theinner faces ofthe rear longitudinal member 2 beyond the transversepieces 3. These plates 9 alsoserve as a means for uniting'the transverseieces 3 to the rear "longitudinal pieces 2 an to this end,` theyy haveprojections 11 struck up therefrom,

' 40 overhanging the transverse pieces 3 and being secured thereto byscrews 12 and having their forward ends turned downwardly at 13 andanchored in grooves in the transverse pieces 3.

The side pieces are also connected by a back piece or strip 14 which hasplates 15 secured at 16 togopposite ends thereof and projecting beyond'the ends of said plates, being turned laterally at 17. The laterallyturned portions vat two ends are adapted to be received inv verticalcurves 18cut in the rear sides of the end pieces 1, screws 19 passthrough the plates 15 and hold said plates to the end pieces. fvBottom'2() closes the rectangular frame 2 and 3 which provides areceptacle in which may be keptl any suitable material. Y

Mounted on the'frame thus provided are 'the bottom-member and the backmember,

both of these members vemb'odyinga metallic box's'prin frame21surrounded by a wooden frame 22 lolted or otherwise' secured to themetal framework thereof-,and-servingas an anchoring means for theupholstering covering 23, the upholstering covering being tackedtlfeunderface of the wooden .frame 22.

the invention 1 indicates the end frame, 2 the addition bolts 37 passthrough thetwo brack- -a track so that the track lies between the twoThis enables the bottom and the back member to be quickly upholstered.

The bottom member is mounted to move on the main frame of the furniturefrom a lower inner position Where it closes the receptacle or box andacts as a seat, to anouter higher position in front of the frame whereit actsas a portion of a bed bottom. This movement, in this instance, iseffected through two tracks supported in the spaces 5 at opposite endsof the rectangular bottom frame. Each of these tracks has an innerhorizontal portion 24, an intermediate inclined portion 25 and an outerhorizontal portion 26 in a higher horizontal plane than' the innerhorizontal portion 24. In this instance, these tracks are spaced bothfrom the transverse pieces 3 and the side frames 1. The rear end of eachtrack is turned laterall at 27 and riveted at 28 to the plate 9 whicbyreason of the fact 'that the said plate 9 has a straight edge 29 forengaging the side face of the transverse piece 3 and a laterally turnedportion 30 for engaging the top edge of the rear longitudinallyextending piece 2, acts as a spacing member for the rear end of thetrack.` The forward end of the track is turned inwardly at 31 and thenrearward and downwardly at 32 to provide a bracket arm adapted to besecured to the inner face of the adjacent transverse member 3. Asupporting bracket 33 is secured to the outer face of the transversemember 3, is deflected at 34, and is provided with an upwardly extendingportion 35 which is secured at 36 to the forward end of the trackportion 26. The bolt 6, hereinbefore mentioned, inpassing through thetransverse piece 3 also passes through the brackets 32 and 33 while inets and the transverse piece to hold the brackets and the forward end ofthe track in position. y y

The bottom member has two rearwardly extending portions 38 on the sidepieces of its box frame 21 and from these extensions depend supports 39.Each support extends downwardly between a track and a. transversepiece'3 as `shown inFig. 3 and carries two posts 40"y and 41 operatingrespectively above and below the track and carrying rollers 42 to'cooperate withfthe upper and lower edges of the track. A connectingpiece 43connects the outer ends of the posts on the outside of rollers42, the support 39 and the connecting piecev 43, whereby the support 39is firmly tied to the tracks against accidental disconnection. Thebottom member is also supported or guided by two links 44ea'ch of whichis 125 pivoted at 45 lto the outside bracket 33 which supports theforward end of the-track and is also pivoted at 46 to one of the sides21./of the box frame ofthe bottom member. In this instance, these twolinks are connectedby 1 2G a longitudinally extending member 47 so thatthey may move in unison.

With the endl in view of supporting a bottom member in its Aouter upperposition two ing lever, 51 for each of these legs is provided,

pivoted at 52 to the box frame below the pivot 49 and having an arm 53provided with a projection 54 which operates in a slot 50 of theadjacent leg., 'The other arm of this lever has pivoted thereto, at 55,a link 56 which is in turn pivoted at 57 to an arm 58 extendinglaterally from the connecting bar 47. This connection effects themovement of the leg 48 automatically to supporting position as shown inFig.f4 to the folding position as shown in Fig. 1 or vice versa.

A novel opening means is provided for the bottom member and, in thisinstance, comprises two springs 60 of coil formation arranged inparallel relation and connected at their opposite ends by loops 61 and62. The loop 61 passes detachably about a headed bolt 63 on one of theswinging links 44 while the loop 62 passes detachably about a headedbolt or projection 64 on a support 39. It is apparent that as thebottom. member moves inwardly on the tracks, the links 44 will swing ontheir pivots 45 and place the springs 60 on tension so thatthe linksmove from the untensioned position of the springs shown in Fig. 4 to thetensioned position of the springs shown in Fig. 1. By having twinsprings or two parallel springs it is possible to obtain suficientstrength for assisting in the open movement of the bottom member withoutloss oftension as would be the case if one or a single spring of equalstrength were employed.

The back member B, hereinbefore mentioned, is in thisinstance movablefrom an upright position as shown in Fig. 1 to a horizontal position asshown in Fig. 4. To this end the back member B is supportedby two links65 pivoted at 66 to the sides of the box frame or the back member andpivoted at 67 to the rear longitudinally extending .piece 2. To thislattery end, the laterally turned portions 30 of the attaching plates 9are provided with rolled ears 68 through which the pivot pins 67 arepassed. These pivot pins 67 are only loosely passed through the ears 68but their`ends lie in close ar-l rangement to the. side pieces 1 asshown in Fig. 13 and in this way the pins are held in their operativepositions. The removal of the' side frames or pieces permit the removalof the pins and consequently detachment of the back supporting links 65.

A pivotal lost motion connection is provided between the bottom member Aand the i back member B which will'closeiup the space between the backmember and the bottom member automatically with the lowering of the backmember and yet will permit the back member tohave its top surface yinabutting relation with the rear end of the bottom member when the backmember is in the upright position shown in Fig. 1. This connection, inthis embodiment of the invention, comprises two brackets 69 droppedfrom. the inner sides y of the rear extensions 38 of the box frame ofthe body member and pivotally supporting at 70 two links 71 to which arepivoted at 72 portions 73 on the side pieces 21 of the boxframe'of theback member. In this instance, each pivot pin 70 has an annular groovein which a split ring 74 of the form shown in Fig. 6 is adapted to becompressed to the form shown in Fig. 8thus member A. This linkconnection 70 together with the link connection 65 gives to the backmember a unique movement. Assuming the v 'parts to be held inthepositions as shown in Fig. 1, when the bottom member A-'is movedoutwardly, thus drawing on the back member B through Athe links 71 theback member, through the links 65 moves at its upper end forwardly anddownwardly and not rearwardly. Eventually the llinks 65 swing the links71 forwardly and bring the forward end of the backmember B in closerelation to the bottom member A. This action is reversed on the innermovement of the bottom member. At no time does the back member swingrearwardlyin rear of the plane of the back of the furniture and as aconsequence when .the furniture i`s close to a wall it is possible toshift the parts from seat or (lavenport construction to a bedconstruction withvout shifting the furniture as a ywhole or Theupholstery of the bottom member is greater in thickness than the backmember.

B and has a quilt extension 74 which is adapted to cover the bottommember when the furniture is used as a davenport as shown in Fig. 1 orto be extended over the back member B as sho-Wn in Fig. 4 when thefurniture is used as a bed. Springs 75 anchored to the links 65 at 76and to the box spring of the back at 77, serve tol assist in returningthe parts to the position shown in Fig. 1 from the position shown inFig. 4. The back piece 14 lies substantially in the plane of the quilttop surface of the bottom member when the parts arefin a position shownin Fig. 4. The springs' 75 assist in moving the back B on the links 71.When the bottom member A is in its outer position, its weight issufficient to hold these back springs 75 against action, but once thefront edge ofV come into action and shift the links 71 and 65 relativelyto the bottom member to space the back member recede together.

A back cloth is provided secured at 78 to' the rear longitudinallyextending piece 2 and to the back piece 14. Between the back iece 14 andthe back member the back cloth as a free portion being secured at 7 9 tothe back piece at the upper portion of the latter. With this arrangementwhen the back piece B lowers, the back cloth falls o-r collapses asshown in Fig. 4 so that the space between the rear end of the backmember B and the back piece 14 is closed, thus covering the compartme'ntor receptacle in the box frame.

The operation of the invention will be understood from the foregoingdescription but it may be summarized as follows: Assuming that the partsare in positions shown in Fig. 1 and it is desired to convert thedavenport or seat into a bed or couch, the user pulls forwardly on theforward end of the bottom member A causing the-supports 39 to travel onthe track and the links 44 to swing on their pivot. This action wasassisted by the spring 60. As the bottom member moves outwardly itsforward edge swings upwardly and opens the receptacle beneath it toaccess. The supports 48 also swing from folded position under the bottommember to supporting position as shown in Fig. 4. The back member Bbegins to move with the movement of the bottom member A. At first, theupper-end of the back member through the links 65 movesv downwardly andinwardly, its inward movement however being slight as compared with itsdownward movement. This movement is continued until eventually as thebottom member approaches 'its final position, the

links 65 together with the weight of the backj member finally advancethe lower end of the back member toward the rear end of the bottommember A to close the gap between them.

, To recouvert the bed into a davenport or seat the forwardedge of thebottom member is lifted thus throwing the-pivot 7() forwardly so thatthe springs 75 swing the back member B on the links 65 and 71 andadvance it away from the upholstered portion of the bottom member whichthen follows the back member rearwardly, the back member swinging on thebottom member and coming to rest with its lower end abutting the rearend of the upholstered portion of the bottom member.

When the back member B is in its lowered position, two pins 81 projectfrom the inner sides of the frame 21 of the back member rest upon therear ends of the extensions 38 of the bottom member A. This point is aswill be seen by referring to Fig. 1, so positioned with reference to thepivots 66 and 67 of 'the link 65, that the link acts as a brace when theback member is in an upright position to prevent the back memberbeingmoved forwardly or backwardly so long as the bottom member is notmoved as a result, pressure on the .back member to shift the furniturewill not disturb the position of the back member.

From the foregoing it will be seen thatthere has been provided anarticle of furniture in which the back member and the bot-v tom memberare utilized for forming a bed. The back member is connected to thebottom memberso as ,to move with the bottom memyber from the innerposition of the latter -to the rear end of the bottom member. Thisresult is accomplished by providing pivotal lost motion connectionbetween the bottom and the back member preferably in the form of links.The back member is also supported on the frame so that it moves inwardlyand downwardly from its upright position, thereby enabling it to bepositioned in close prox imity to a wall of a room without interferingwith the wall. A back cloth is wprovided for the furniture connectedtothe back member in such a manner as not to interfere with the movementof the back member and acting when the back member is in its lowerposition to close the space between the back member and theback piece ofthe furniture. When the back member is in its lower position, the backpiece does not project above the upper surface of the .bottom member.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure'by Letters Patent is:

1. In furniture, /the combination with a.

supporting said bottom member to permit the latter to move with itsextension from an inner to an outer position and vice versa, a backmember having a pivotal lost motion connection with the extensionpermitting the back member to rest at its lower end on the extensionwhen the bottom member is in its inner position and to move forwardly onthe extension to lie horizontally in the plane with the bott'om memberwhen the bottom member is in its outerposition with the lower end ofsuch back member in close proximity to the rear end of the' upholsteredportion of the bottom member, and ali/nk pivf,

back member toward the rear end of the bottom member', and a springconnecting with said swinging link between its two pivotal connectionsand with the back member in advance with the pivotal connection with thelink of such back member so that as the bottom member moves inwardly thespring will shift the lower end of the back member away from the rearend of the upholstered portion to permit the lower end of the'backmemberto rest on the extension.

2. In furniture, the'combination with va frame, a trackway on the frame,a bottom member, a means carried by the rear end of the bottom memberfor movingy on the trackway, and a swinging member pivotally connectedto the frame at the front portion of the latter and to the bottom memberbetween the front and rear ends of the latter so that the bottom memberswings upwardly at its forward end in moving to its inner or outerposition, of a backmember, means for supporting the back member so thatthe latter moves forwardly at its lower end and its top end movesdownwardly, and a swinging link pivoted to the back member and to thebottom member, the pivotal connection to said yback member lying to oneside and above the pivotal connection to the bottom member when the backand the bottom'meml bers are in the same plane and -to the other sideand above the pivotal connection to the bottom member when the back andbottom members are in seat forming position.V

3. In furniture, the combination with a frame having a back piece, and abottom lmember movable to an inner or an outer posif tion on saidlframe,'of a back member pivotally connected at its lower end with the rear endof the bottom member, means for supporting said back member on the frameso that the upper edge of the back member may move downwardly as thelower end of the back member, moves forwardly and a back cloth securedto the back member and to the back piece of the frame, covering the backmember when it is in its upper position and the space between the backmember and the back piece when the back member is in its lower positionnY 4f. In furniture, the combination with ,a bottom frame and side framessecured to the bottom frame and extending upwardly above the same, of abackpiece, plates secured to oppositeends of said back .piece and pro-yjecting beyond the ends of said back piece, their outer ends beingsecured to the side frames, a back member, and links supportin saidbackmember, said links being pivote to the back member and to the frameand being arranged to lie when the back member is in its upright`position between the ends of the back piece and the side frames.

5. In furniture, the combination with a bottom frame and detachable sideframes detachably secured thereto, of a back member,

sup-porting links for the back member pivotally connected to the latter,and pivotal connection between the links and the bottom frame embodyingremovably pintles held against removal by the side frames.

6; In furniture, the combination with a bottom frame embodying twolongitudinally extending pieces, a track supported by the bottom frameat one end thereof, a plate to which one end of'the track is secured,said plate being secured to a longitudinally extending piece of thebottom frame, a side frame secured at one end of the bottom frame, and abolt connecting said side frame with said plate. l

7 In furniture, the combination with a bottom frame embodying twolongitudinally extending pieces andtwo transverse pieces' spaced fromthe ends of the longitudinally extending pieces and connecting saidlongitudinally extending pieces, of tracks arranged beyond saidtransverse pieces on said bottom frame, and securing plates for one endof each of the tracks bolted to the inner face of one of saidlongitudinal pieces and' each having a horizontal flange for cooperatingwith the upper edge of the longitudinally extending piece to positionthe plate vertically and a vertical edge for cooperating with the outerface of a transverse piece to position the plate horizontally.

8. In furniture, the combination with a V- bottom frame embodying 'twolongitudinally extending pieces and two transverse piecesv connected tothe longitudinally `extending pieces in spaced relation to the ends ofsaid longitudinally extending pieces, the upper edges of the transversepieces being below the upper edges of the longitudinally extendingpieces, bed tracks supported by the bottom' yframe beyond the outerfaces of the transverse pieces, and attaching plates for one end of'each of the tracks, each attaching plate being boltedto the inner faceof'one of the longitudinally extending pieces and having av lip cuttherefrom and overlying the adjacent transverse piece, said lip beingsecured to the transverse piece and having a flange at its free endextending into the transverse piece so as to strengthen the connectionbetween the transverse piece and the longitudinally extending piece.

9. In furniture, the combination with a bottom frame embodying twolongitudinally e-longitudinall extendmgieces andspacedfromtheendso saidlongitu inally extending piece, of a track supported on the outer sidesof the transverse piece by said bottom frame, and means for supportingone end of the track on the bottom frame comprising two bracket memberssecured to the inner and the outer faces of the transverse piece anddepending from the track member, the bracket member that is secured tothe outer face ofA the transverse piece having an oset portion to spacethe track member from the trans.- verse piece.

10.' In furniture, the combination with a bottom frame embodying twolongitudinally extending pieces and a transverse piece connecting thelongitudinally extending pieces and spaced from the ends of saidlongitudinally extendin piece, of a track supported on the outer si esof the transverse piece by said bottom frame, and means for supportingone end of the track on the bottom frame comprising two bracket memberssecured to the inner and the outer faces of the transverse piece anddepending from the track member, the bracket member that is secured tothe outer face of the transverse piece having an oset portion to spacethe track member from the transverse piece, a side frame secured to the'longitudinally extending pieces, and a bolt passing through said sideframe, two

track supporting bracket pieces and the vtransverse pieces between them.35

1l. In furniture, the combination with a bottom frame embodying twolongitudinally extending members and a transverse piece connectingthem'and spaced from the ends of the' longitudinally extending members,a track member supported on the outer side of the transverse piece, aplate to which one end of the track vmember is secured bolted to theinner face of a longitudinally l extending member, a back member, and asupporting link for the back member pivotally connected to the backmember and pivoted on the plate which lsecures the end of the trackmember.

12. In furniture, the combination with a frame, a bottom member havingan upbolstered portion and a rigid extension 1n rear ofand in a planebelow the upholstered tion, a swinging support for the back membermounted to carry the back to an upright osition with the lower end ofthe back mem- 5er resting-on the rigid extension of the bottom memberand in close proximity to the upholstered portion ofsaid bottom memberand to carry the backmember downwardly -1 'so' that the `upholsteredportion lies in the plane of the upholstered portion of the back member,and a swinging link pivoally vcontion, and means for supporting thebottom member for movement from an inner to an outer position and viceversa, of a back member having an upholstered portion, a supporting linkfor the backmember pivoted to the supporting frame adjacent the rear ofthe latter and to the back member between. .its upper and lower ends,and a link piv.-

otally connected to the bottom member adjacent the rear of the latterand to the back member adjacent `the lower end of the latter but abovethe pivotal connection with the bottom member to provide a pivotal andlost motion connection between the bottom member andsthe back member,and a spring connected to the back supporting link between the pivotalconnections of the latter and connected to the back member below thepivotal connection of said back supporting link with the back member.

' MARTIN THUM.

